Robin Williams' Son Opens Up About His Dad's Mental Health Struggles

Years after the tragic death of Robin Williams in 2014, fans still mourn the death of the iconic actor. Williams' death had a profound effect on his son, Zak, who opened up about the loss in an upcoming episode of The Dr. Oz Show, exclusively shared with People.

"I was acutely aware of my dad's struggles with depression, it manifested in addiction at times, and he took great lengths to support his well-being and mental health, especially when he was challenged," said Zak of his father, who took his own life. "It was something that was a daily consideration for him."

He continued, "The main thing for me was noticing how he went through great lengths to support himself while he could show up for others. It was clear that he prioritized his mental health throughout most of his life, at least that I experienced with him."

After his father's death, Zak began to suffer from depression and addiction and sought help. "I found myself hitting rock bottom when I wanted to just be numb," he said. "I found myself wanting to drink alcohol and just not think. That was something that was really dysregulating for me. I found myself waking up in the morning and feeling like I was having a dissociative experience, but I just didn't want to be living the life I was living. I realized something had to give."

Zak is now in recovery, and is in a 12-Step program which he has found to be "very helpful." He added that service and community support groups have also helped him, advising people in similar situations to find what works for them. "For others, it might be connecting through community organization or through sports, there's any number of things," he said.

Zak previously told People that his father's death left him "traumatized" but that he is doing better these days. ""I've learned I'm not broken," he said. "Despite experiencing traumatic events, I can recover. And I am now on a path of healing and being the person I always wanted to be."